STATE COLLEGE — A most critical victory in a Penn State season in danger of unraveling was driven by the running back who never seemed to get enough chances.

Miles Sanders just about guaranteed earlier in the week that the Nittany Lions would find their running game on this frigid Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium.

It started when he and his fellow tailbacks interrupted a position group meeting to prop up their struggling offensive linemen. Then Sanders got on a teleconference call and told the world about it.

They knew they had to take pressure off the Nittany Lions' sputtering pass game and banged-up QB Trace McSorley.

Turns out that Sanders, the talented but often under-used junior, just needed some time to warm up on one of the windiest home games in recent memory. He was the biggest star in an overall promising team performance resulting in the Lions' 22-10 victory over Wisconsin.

The Lions lived off of Sanders' hard running, McSorley's short passing game, and an imperfect but resilient defensive performance.

But it was Sanders who was the most impressive, getting stronger the more he ran. He pushed past the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

He even threw in a couple of Saquon Barkley-like hurdles along the way.

"What's cool for me, and the rest of the team ... is that we've been able to see him grow as a leader," McSorley said of Sanders. "See him get more comfortable in that role of being able to speak up and get guys going on offense and talk to guys on defense."

Sure enough, NCAA rushing leader Jonathan Taylor impressed on the Wisconsin side, especially when he broke through wide-open blocking and accelerated on a clear freeway to open the game.

Wisconsin's third play from scrimmage went for a 71-yard touchdown, and things looked ominous enough for PSU after last week's blowout loss in Ann Arbor.

The biggest problem for the Badgers was that Taylor was about their only reliable offensive option. Backup QB Jack Coan rarely even tried to throw, and things often didn't go well when he did.

Penn State, meanwhile, offered just enough to complement Sanders.

McSorley was again briefly knocked out of the game after a hard sack just before halftime. But he returned in the third quarter and was supremely efficient with a short passing game throughout.

He was 19-of-25 throwing for just 160 yards and a touchdown through the middle of the fourth quarter as he helped build a 12-point lead.

The hammer was provided by Sanders and a defense that forced Wisconsin into the most uncomfortable mode of trying to pass the ball to win.

Penn State's Shareef Miller (48) moves in to sack Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.(Photo: Chris Knight, AP)

Defensive ends Shareef Miller and Yetur Gross-Matos fired off the edge, and Robert Windsor bull-rushed inside to blow up whenever Coan attempted to perform with his arm. In the first half, Miller owned as many sacks (two) as Coan pass completions.

Plus, they did enough to control Taylor, too, after he piled up 79 rushing yards in the first four minutes of the game. They made him work hard just to double that deep into the fourth quarter.

"We wanted to make a big statement. They kept talking about their offensive line," Miller said. "We kept hearing, '(Wisconsin) offensive line, this and that.' We understood that they were a great offensive line, and we were ready for the test."

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Penn State kicker Jake Pinegar (92) kicks a field goal as Blake Gillikin (93) holds the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's DeAndre Thompkins (3) takes off running after a catch against Wisconsin during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) looks to pass the ball against as he is pressured out of the pocket against Wisconsin during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's Miles Sanders (24) gets past Wisconsin's Zack Baun (56) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State head coach James Franklin, yells at the referee during a timeout against Wisconsin in the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos (99) knocks the ball out of the hand of Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan (17) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's Shareef Miller (48) stiff arms Wisconsin's Garrett Groshek (37) after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Wisconsin's Tyler Biadasz (61) strips the ball away from Penn State's Shareef Miller (48) after he intercepted the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Wisconsin's Danny Davis (6) makes a catch in front of Penn State's Tariq Castro-Fields (5) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's Nittany Lion mascot is lifted up by the student section after a field goal against Wisconsin during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst stands on the sidelines as the team takes on Penn State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) walks the sidelines during a timeout against Wisconsin in the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry motions to his players during a timeout against Wisconsin in the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Penn State won 22-10. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's KJ Hamler (1) gets hit by Wisconsin's Ryan Connelly (43) after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's Shareef Miller (48) moves in to sack Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State's Jahan Dotson (5) takes off running after a catch as Wisconsin's Deron Harrell (8) gives chase during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Chris Knight, AP

Penn State quarterback Tommy Stevens (2) is sacked by Wisconsin Jack Connelly (43) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Chris Knight, AP

Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor (23) is pushed out of bounds by Penn State's Amani Oruwariye (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Chris Knight, AP